CLERMONT, FL – The Heidelberg University Softball team wrapped up their trip to the Spring Games with a pair of one-run losses. HU fell to Johnson & Wales, 9-8, then lost to Alvernia, 1-0. The Student Princes head back to Ohio with a 3-7 record, with five one-run losses.
On Friday, Heidelberg was led by an early grand slam from
Aubrey Conklin in game one.
Caitlynn Newlen and
Gabbie Stallbaum both tallied three hits – consisting of two doubles.
Morgan Woycitzky and
Ellie Tressler each added two on the day.
GAME ONE: Johnson & Wales 9-14-2 Heidelberg 8-14-0
Heidelberg had an incredible start, as
Aubrey Conklin pleased the crowd with a bases-loaded grand slam to go up 4-0 with just one out in the first.
Jade Torres led off with a single to left field, followed up by a
Morgan Woycitzky sacrifice bunt to move her to second.
Gabbie Stallbaum was walked and an
Ellie Tressler deep single set up Conklin for her first career homer.
The scoring didn't stop there.
Murissa Drown picked up a single to left field to move
Meghan Bame, who was walked, to second.
Caitlynn Newlen had the final hit of the inning with a deep double to center field that hit the fence and brought Bame home for an early 5-0 lead.
Undeterred, the Wildcats returned with a five hit, six-run inning in the bottom of the second for a 6-5 lead.
The Student Princes tied things up in the fourth, using a pair of doubles from Stallbaum and Tressler.
Holding Johnson & Wales scoreless in their half, Heidelberg added on two more in the fifth for a 8-6 advantage. With yet another 'Berg double,
Caitlynn Newlen sent one out to centerfield that hit the fence. Drown, who reached on a fielder's choice, moved over to third where a single from Torres allowed her to score. Woycitzky had a successful bunt that confused the defense to make it to first and moved Torres to third. With two outs, Stallbaum sent one to the sky for a sacrifice fly RBI as Newlen scampered home.
With JWU up to bat with a runner on base and two outs, Woycitzky made an impressive diving catch in left field to silence the inning.
The home team would return three more runs in the bottom of the sixth, which Heidelberg never managed to get back and fell 9-8. The Student Princes had runners on the corners in the seventh, but were unable to equalize.
GAME TWO: Alvernia 1-6-1 Heidelberg 0-4-0
The lone run of the game came in the top of the fourth inning. Alvernia's Paige Paciolla led off with a single and moved to third on a ground out and a fly out. With two down, she scored on a single to center by Emily Sano.
Despite allowing the run in the fourth,
Caitlin Dems was sharp in the circle for the Student Princes. She went all seven innings, scattering six hits.
Heidelberg's best opportunity came in the bottom of the fifth. With two outs,
Caitlynn Newlen and
Murissa Drown singled. Pinch runner
Shannon Wyatt was on second when
Carmen Moore ripped a single through the left side. Waved home, Wyatt was thrown out at the plate by a narrow margin, ending the inning.
The Student Princes stranded the tying run on first to end the game, and the trip.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
Heidelberg was tied or held the lead in the fifth inning or later in the five of the seven losses on the trip …
Ellie Tressler (14 hits, 5 2B, 9 RBI) and
Gabbie Stallbaum (13 hits, 6 2B, 3 HR, 8 RBI) spearheaded batting for the week …
Emma Dean hit .467 in 15 at bats …
Morgan Woycitzky had three stolen bases and four sacrifice bunts … In the circle,
Kailyn Kroll kept a 0.00 ERA through 10 innings, while
Caitlin Dems maintained 1.66 ERA for 25.1 innings
UP NEXT:
The softball team returns to Tiffin on Frann's Field for the home opener doubleheader against Bluffton on Wednesday, March 13. Game one is slated for a 3:30 p.m. start time.
